I really don't know where the time went. This past year was a complete blur for me.

I had a(nother) baby.

and I wrote a(nother) book.

Adam doesn't want me to post pictures of the kids on the Internet, so instead of a beautiful smiling baby face (and man, she really is a smiler!), you're stuck with the cover art of the book.

I wouldn't recommend having a baby and writing a cookbook all at the same time, but if you do, make sure you've got the best family in the world to help.

and a really big freezer.

Mike, who works at BarnesandNoble.com would like to remind you that you can use the Barnes and Noble gift card you got for a Holiday present online. He'd also like you to know that there is a NEW! not in the book! recipe for ribs (in the features tab) on BarnesandNoble.com and that this new cookbook is ONLY! $10.55! for a limited time only!!!!!!

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an excerpt from the Introduction:

There are over 200 brand-new recipes in this book that have not been shared in the first Make It Fast, Cook It Slow cookbook. I have separated the book into three sections: $7 and under, $10 and under, and $15 and under dishes. Within each section, there are chapters for beverages, appetizers, soups and stews, side dishes, main courses, and desserts. The main-course selections are bountiful, because I believe this is the most beneficial.

I live in the SF Bay Area, which happens to be a terribly expensive place to live. The prices in this book are from my own hometown, from my own (regional chain) grocery store. I did not use coupons to purchase the food, although I did choose to buy items when they were on sale, and chose store brand items if the per-ounce cost was less expensive than that of the name brand.

Because of this, you may find that by shopping with the store circulars in your area, or by using coupons, or by purchasing meat in bulk at a warehouse store, you can find food at a lower price, and that my prices seem inflated. I'm okay with that! I'd much rather err on the side of overestimating the costs.

In the past, many slow-cooker meals were made cheaply because they revolved around canned cream-of-something soup. While I do think there is a place in the world for condensed soup, this book does not have a single recipe that calls for this ingredient. My family doesn't use this product due to allergy and health concerns, and since so many recipes already exist with this key ingredient, I wanted to step away and prove to myself (and others!) that inexpensive slow cooker dishes can be made without it. I am such a sucker for a challenge.

As in the first cookbook, everything has been prepared completely gluten-free. If you are not gluten-free, simply ignore my notes, or file them away in case you ever need to cook for someone with a gluten sensitivity.

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This book is a group effort. I could not have finished my Year of Slow Cooking challenge in 2008 without the love, support, and hand-holding each one of you have provided, and I certainly wouldn't have kept it up to unearth ANOTHER 200 recipes without your suggestions, emails, and comments.

Thank you.

I'm blown away by your generosity and support. I don't have any current plans for a booktour, but I'd really like to set up a roadtrip with the family over the summer. If I can finagle something, I will certainly let you all know.

If you can help with word-of-mouth publicity for this new book via facebook, a blog post, or something else, please let me know. The contact information for the publisher's publicist is up above in the "contact" section, or you can email me at crockpotlady AT gmail DOT com.

52 comments:

I love your intro in the book and how you laid it out according to cost. I started reading it right away on my Kindle. I'm liking it so much I'm off to get the hard copy and get one for my son who was given a slow cooker from his grandparents for Christmas. Another winner Steph!

Woo-hoo! I pre-ordered mine a couple of months ago and just got the email from Amazon that it's on its way! Whenever I hear a friend lamenting about trying to live GF, I recommend your website and cookbook, and whenever I hear a friend lamenting about trying to cook healthier/faster meals, I recommend your website and cookbook. So excited to get the new one--can't wait!!!

My fantabulous husband really and truly listens to me... I got this cookbook for Christmas! And...my 10 yer old added about 40 stickie notes with requests to have me help her make these meals! YAHOO! Love your efforts & work, Strphanie! Thanks for adding to my daily happiness!

I went to the bookstore today and couldn't find it. However, when I asked at the customer desk, the girl said they had just come in today. She asked me to wait and went to look in the backroom. Yeah! She brought one out to me. Can't wait to try it!

I downloaded both of your cookbooks onto my kindle and I am just THRILLED to have found them and your blog. I am a busy mother of three children age 11, 10, and 7. I homeschool my oldest child and am starting graduate school in January. It can be very hard to find fast tasty recipes for gluten free families like ours so you are going to be a life saver! I've made the candy chicken and baked potato soup and my kids loved it.

Love your blog and Do Need The New Book as I am slowly getting use to haveing at least 3 crockpot meals each week. Love the notion of the differt levels offered in the new book. Thanks for all you do. Have to go start some type of chiken dish for tonight.MaryAnn Grove

Steph, I am so thrilled for you! How you've done all this in the past year is simply amazing and a testament to your discipline, my dear. :-) You are helping so many folks. I love reading these comments, especially the ones from those who are eating gluten free and finding your recipes and way of living gluten free for your family to be a godsend. I'm so happy to be doing a giveaway of your new book, too. It's so very reasonably priced on Amazon, it just made sense to pick up several when I ordered mine. ;-) Can't wait for the order to arrive!

Yay!!! Congratulations to you. Kudos - much deserved. You are a pioneer my dear! I cannot wait to get my own copy - I'm off to order it right now! If it's anything as wonderful as the first one, it's a winner, for sure!

Congrats on the new cookbook Steph! Can't wait to get it. Thanks again for your inspiration--I'm finishing up my year of projects this week! (www.dirtylittlesecrets2010.blogspot.com) I'm 30 weeks pregnant with #7 and I feel like I've been nesting for the past year :) If you do a family trip be sure and hit Salt Lake City Utah for a book signing! It's a great place to visit. --Becky Beck

This is my FIRST time coming across your site- I have however heard and seen your Books Everywhere. SO that MUST mean something right? :) I will be looking into getting them.Congrats- I know its a ton of work! and furthermore Im psyched to look through your site some more.xo,

Cant wait for my copy of your new cookbook. Its so nice to have recipes that dont center around beef roast and chili. BTW did you know if you freeze leftovers in blocks the size/shape of your little dipper its easy to toss in a frozen chunk and have a hot lunch ready in between running around and loads of laundry/dishes. Fast food for mom and the kid(s) who are too young for school.

I asked for both books for Christmas and the second one arrived via UPS yesterday! I just LOVE how easy your website/blog is set up for searches, but now I have the books and can set out to make even more tastey recipes in the crockpot! Thanks for doing this and I'll post it on my blog!Laurie(I also bought the first book AND a crockpot for 2 of my kids for Christmas!)

I recieved your first cookbook for Christmas this year and am loving it! I have already dog-earred many of the pages to remind myself of the particular recipes that caught my eye. I made the Salsa Chicken and Black Bean soup for dinner the other night and am enjoying it for lunch this week! Yum!

The post-woman just delivered my new book!! Can't wait to sit down and read it cover-to-cover. I'm certain it will be as marked up and flagged as your last book. Your book is a staple for every house!! I love it!

ok, I got your first book for christmas and it is so bookmarked it is rediculous! I've already made the creme brule (so good!!) and the overnight breakfast casserole (very good and the left overs are going to be breakfast burritos!) I just ordered your 2nd one too. should be here soon. I am also making the black bean soup for tomorrow. woohooo for the slow cooker. =0)

I purchased your new book yesteray at Barnes & Noble. They didn't have your first book, so guess I will have to order it on-line. I have loved the recipes that I have tried from the blog. You are amazing! Wishing you a very happy New Year!

I had preordered three of the books. They were waiting for me when I got home yesterday from vacation. I'm so excited, I don't know if I should read thhe book first, or if I shopuld just open the book and make what comes up.

I opened the book at random and maple-glazed porkchops came up. I have all the ingredients, except my syrup is sugar free pancake syrup. Hope it works. Stephanie, you have made me fearless in trying 'substitutions'.

I have asked my husband for both of your books for my birthday this year. I love love love your website not only becauses your food rocks, but because it's gluten free too! I didn't know such good food could still exist for us! Thank you for all you do!

I got both of your books for Christmas and I absolutely love them!! They already have recipes flagged! My next goal is to get a 4 qt slow cooker. I already have a 6 qt and a 1.5 qt and use them all the time. Thanks so much for all your hard work!!

No cream-of-something soup caught my eye & I downloaded this for my Kindle, used my Christmas gift card for a new 6 qt Crock Pot, and made Red Potatoes with Rosemary & Garlic in the old CP and Herb Garden Chicken in the new one for our family New Year's Eve dinner. Best dinner, ever!!!

I received the new cookbook last week and LOVE it. I made the pepperoni pizza chili (subbed turkey pepp) and it was delicious. I made the caulifower gratin last nite (subbed fat free milk for 3/4 of cream) and it was so good - I made that my main course! Thanks for your great recipes

I've been following this blog almost since the beginning and had recently checked your first cookbook out of the library to see how I liked it. Then I saw that you've got Volume 2 out--I was happy to purchase it and can't wait until it gets here (today!)

Thanks for helping me (and probably many others) learn that slow cookers aren't just for stew and casseroles made with canned soup. I'm finding out what a versatile appliance it really can be!

I love, Love, LOVE your cookbooks! I borrowed the first "Make it Fast, Cook it Slow" from our local library last week and can't get enough of the recipes! I'm placing my order online for both of your books...an absolute must for any "crock"head! Thank you for all of your ideas...:)

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